Thrifty Birthday Decorations

Davis will be 4 on Saturday. To celebrate we are having a brunch with friends and family. I want to decorate, but I'm not too interested in spending money on a bunch of plastic junk.



I decided to collect a few of my favorite photos of Davis. I found a few binder clips and other clips I've had for years and created a little photo display.

A perfect way to celebrate and honor our birthday boy. It lets everyone see how much he's grown and gives us an opportunity to share special memories.

If you want to get real fancy with your binder clips, How About Orange shows you how to cover them with fabric.

Check out other great thrifty ideas at Green Baby Guide.

Rescue, Resell & Recycle

I wasn't far along in the packing process, when I realized it was going to be impossible to pack up our whole house with boxes from the liquor store. Liquor boxes are great for smaller items and books, but how in the world were all the kids' toys going to fit in such small boxes? They have a lot of toys. Let's just say I had a small addiction to Fisher Price Little People toys a few years ago.

I'm also not fast enough to benefit from any of the free packing materials posted on Freecycle. We did discover Trader Joe's has some great sturdy boxes for smaller things, but the dilemma of packing all the larger stuff still existed.

I caved.

I hung my head in shame and went into a Home Depot. I bought boxes . . . . and bubble wrap . . . and foamy things for packing dishes. A few days later, I learned about a company that rescues truckloads of quality used boxes from large companies.


UsedCardboardBoxes.com inspects and sorts the rescued boxes by size and shape. They create "kits" and resell boxes through their website. They offer free shipping and guarantee delivery in 1-2 business days.

Pretty cool. I need more boxes, but I'm not going to buy any. I'm going to get creative and work with what I have. You better believe I'll be easing my "green guilt" by putting everything up on Freecycle when we're unpacked!

Three R Thursday - 13 Of My Favorite Green Bloggers

There are lots of great green blogs out in the blogosphere. The following are some of my favorites and daily reads. I'm always finding inspiration from these women and look forward to reading about their latest challenges, finds or rants.

I'd love to add to my list. If you know of any green blogs I didn't mention (including your own), please let me know.

1. Green Bean Dreams
Green Bean is a smart lady. I enjoy reading her posts, and I walk away a little smarter each time. She wrote a great post about letting go that helped me gain a little perspective.

2. OrganicMania
OrganicMania is your guide to making sense of healthy green living. She has done most of the leg work for you. I faithfully read all her posts pertaining to saving on organic food.

3. Mindful Momma
A thoughtfully written blog exploring what happens when we are more mindful of the things we do.

4. Crunchy Domestic Goddess
She had me at the title of her blog. Amy is passionate about natural childbirth, breastfeeding, cloth diapering, gentle discipline, recycling, green living, organic foods, informed health care decisions and other things considered crunchy/granola/earthy.

5. GreenStyleMom
GreenStyleMom is down to earth and proves that eco-friendly living can be fun and stylish. Read about her co-housing experiences and check out what she does in her spare time.

6. Crunchy Chicken
Crunchy is such a dedicated green blogger. It's hard to pin point a couple of things to highlight from her blog so I suggest you go over and read EVERYTHING. Okay, if everything is not realistic make sure you check out some of her challenges, book clubs and her Goods 4 Girls program.

7. Eco 'Burban
A witty blogger who is making practical steps towards going green in the suburbs one plastic bag at a time. Read about her local summer challenge.

8. Chile Chews
I'm new to Chile's blog and have been lurking for awhile. She has a great Quit Now Challenge going on now and recently held a Cut the Crap challenge to help motivate people to declutter their lives.

9. Surely You Nest
MamaBird had mastered the combination of humor and green living. Read about the green party she planned for her daughter's fifth birthday.

10. Simple - Green - Frugal
I have learned a lot from SGF's blog. She is extremely practical and has great ideas for living a more simple, beautiful life. Be sure to read about her "No Graze Days of Summer".

11. EnviroMom
EnviroMom is a great resource for green living. Even though it caters to locals in Portland, OR, I've found it very helpful and informative. Be sure to read about their One Can a Month Challenge.

12. Fake Plastic Fish
Read the inspiring list of plastic-free changes Beth has made. She is also leading the campaign for Clorox to take back and recycle Brita water filters.

13. Allie's Answers
Allie's blog proves going green doesn’t have to be complicated. Her tips can help you simplify your life and save you money.

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Three R Thursday - Vinegar

Plan White Vinegar is a multi-purpose cleaner that's cheap and non-toxic. It can help you in the kitchen, the bathroom, the laundry and even your flower beds.

It's a great idea to create two vinegar spray bottles. One filled with pure vinegar and the other with a vinegar/water mixture.

You may recognize some of these and some might be new to you (as they were to me). I would love to hear how you use vinegar to help perform everyday tasks.

1. Moisten those annoying stickers used on frames and mirrors with vinegar. Let sit for at least ten minutes, then remove.

2. Place a bowl of vinegar in a stinky room overnight to remove persistent odors.

3. Clean your windows with a half vinegar/water spray. Wipe with newspapers or microfiber cloth to decrease lint.

4. Soak your shower head in vinegar overnight to remove corrosion or chemical build-up.

5. Remove stains from your toilet bowl by spraying with vinegar and scrubbing. Sprinkling in a little baking soda will help with any odor.

6. Keep ants away by spraying vinegar along doorways, windowsills and counter tops. Clean any ant trails with vinegar.

7. Remove odors from the sink or garbage disposal by pouring in a cup of vinegar. Give it at least an hour before rinsing.

8. Add 2 tablespoons of vinegar to your water before boiling eggs. It keeps them from cracking.

9. Keep colors from running by soaking in vinegar before washing.

10. Freshen your cut flowers by adding 2 tablespoons of vinegar and 1 teaspoon of sugar for each quart of water.

11. Spray vinegar full strength on weeds. The vinegar "starves" the weed and it will die. Works best on a sunny day. You can also spray the grass on walks and driveways.

12. Tenderize meat by soaking it in vinegar overnight.

13. Clean and disinfect your wood cutting boards by wiping with full strength vinegar.

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Three R Thursday - Challenges

Well, Crunchy Chicken's Buy Nothing Challenge ended yesterday. I started off the month strong - then we had our first 80 degree day. I panicked because my children were running around in their winter clothes - sweating - with shoes that were too small.

Funny how buying clothes for them created a domino effect - buying clothes for them, turned into buying clothes for me, turned into buying a few things for the house.

It wouldn't be hard for me to justify all of my purchases, but I've learned something about myself. I'm a weak consumer who gets a high from purchasing things - I'm aware of my problem and Crunchy's challenge was an eye opening experience for me. It made me aware of all the mindless spending I was doing before - I'm going to keep this challenge in mind for a long time.

I'm excited about May's challenge. Green Bean Dreams is challenging us to read one "green" book. A couple of months ago Bob bought me "Farewell, My Subaru: An Epic Adventure in Local Living" by Doug Fine. You can check out Doug's blog here.

I look forward to reading Farewell, My Subaru and learning more about Doug. I'll bring you a summary at the end of the month.

13 Creative Uses for Plastic Bags

We've been working hard to reduce our use of plastic bags. We take our reusable bags to the grocery store and other retail stores. On occasion we walk out of the house without our reusable bags, so we end up with a nice little collection at home.

Here are 13 creative things you can do with your plastic bags:

1. Use bags in your suitcases for dirty underclothes or for wet clothes from a day at the swimming pool.

2. Use bags to wrap your gifts.

3. Use a bag as you would a rubber glove when you don't have rubber gloves
handy.

4. Use bags as packing material instead of the dreaded white foam peanuts.

5. When your credit card won't swipe, put it inside the bag and try again.

6. Use bags as rubber boots to keep your feet dry.

7. Use a bag as a backpack for your kids by putting their arms through the handles.

8. Put bags on your wiper blades and mirrors in the winter to keep them free from snow and ice.

9. Store your shoes in plastic bags when you have them inside your suitcase to keep clothes from getting dirty and smelly.

10. For easy cleanup, place a bag inside a bucket or pot next to your sink when you peel fruits or vegetables. You can quickly dispose of the bag or place peelings in a compost pile.

11. Take your bags to the grocery store to reuse instead of getting new ones each time.

12. Donate bags to food pantries, used book stores, libraries, thrift shops, or other organizations. For ease of use, flatten the bags, fold them in half, and place in another plastic bag before donating.

13. Cut head and arm holes and use a bag as a smock for your child's craft project.

If all else fails - drop off your bags in the recycling bin at your grocery store.

Tell me how you are using your plastic bags, I would love to add to this list!

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Three R Thursday: A Sticky Situation

Dear Mr. Grocer,

I'm sure you have a logical reason for putting multiple stickers on my organic produce. You probably think it's okay because the stickers are made with food grade gums. You may not have considered the fact that when a toddler asks for an apple, they don't have the patience to wait while their mother peels and scrubs the stickiness off of their healthy organic apple.

You probably discovered you were losing money at the check out counter because the checkers couldn't tell the difference between organic and conventional produce. For some reason the small sticker wasn't sufficient, so a really big one needed to be added.

I have a solution. Save the money you are spending on these stickers. Save the time it takes for one of your employees to stick them on everything organic. With the money you save, you can charge the same amount for organic and conventional produce.

After all, don't we all deserve to eat produce grown without the use of toxic pesticides.

Thank you for your consideration.

Three R Thursday - William the Garbage Truck

Recently I received a copy of William the Garbage Truck to read and review. William The Garbage Truck and Crew is a colorful storybook series that teaches children how to “Go Green”. Perfect for ages three to eight, each book follows William and his friends as they clean up the fictional city of Jamestown, enjoy exciting adventures and learn important life lessons along the way.

At first a smoky white garbage truck, William learns about conservation, makes friends, learns lessons and eventually transforms to a green hybrid recycling truck committed to the fight against global warming.

As soon as the book arrived, my 3 year old son was intrigued. He loves anything with wheels and wanted to read it immediately. He loved learning about William. He really enjoyed the colorful pictures and is ready to learn more about William's friends. William has become part of our night time reading line-up. This series is a great way to introduce "going green" to your children. I think it would also be a great addition to any traditional or homeschooling classroom.

William the Garbage Truck will be available for purchase on Earth Day. Each book will be printed with eco-friendly materials and is 100% recyclable.

Three R Thursday - 13 Top Green Picks for Baby

1. A SwaddleMe from Kiddopotamus' certified organic collection. Pediatricians recommend swaddling to comfort and soothe newborns. SwaddleMe wings have Velcro tabs, to wrap up your newborn and stay comfortably in place. As baby grows, wings readjust for a perfect fit. SwaddleMe wings are easily opened to prevent overheating, and the leg pouch can be popped down for a quick diaper checking or changing. SwaddleMe can also be used in the car seat, simply insert car seat harnesses through the access slits!

2. Born Free BPA-free bottles. Bisphenol-A is a hormone-disrupting chemical considered to be potentially harmful to human health and the environment. It has been known that scratched and worn polycarbonate feeding bottles will leach this chemical into liquids. The BornFree™ products are made of PES (Polymer), Polypropylene, glass and Silicone. If you would like to read more about the dangers of Bisphenol-A visit this portal.


3. Gerber Nuk Orthodontic Pacifier Simple Button for Newborn. These pacifiers are also BPA-free. Here is a guide for How to Find Safer Pacifiers.




4. George organic clothing. I won this lot of clothing on eBay for less than $25. They are in great shape and so soft.






5. California Baby Hair & Body Wash Shampoo. California Baby products contain organic and sustainably grown ingredients. No Sodium lauryl sulfate, DEA, or numbing agents. California Baby is also a very eco-friendly company, they use minimal packaging and recycled paper and soy inks for product info tags and literature.



6. American Baby Company organic bedding collection. I was able to order a crib and cradle sheet through Amazon.



7. Kate Quinn Organics. I couldn't resist getting at least one outfit from Kate Quinn. Her clothing is certified organic and produced using fair trade practices. I reviewed several clothing sites here. I got the Tahitian/Chocolate outfit - this little boy may never come out of it!



8. Bumkins Starter Bib. These bibs are waterproof, stain and odor resistant. Most importantly, they are PVC, Phthalate & Vinyl Free. Made in the USA.



9. Sassy Earth Brights Wooden Dove Teether. This teething toy is BPA-free. Here is a guide for How to Find Safer Teethers.



10. Seventh Generation Baby Wipes. Seventh Generation uses renewable, non-toxic, phosphate-free, and biodegradable ingredients as often as possible, and are never tested on animals. Seventh Generation Baby Wipes are moistened with natural aloe vera, vitamin E, and water to cleanse and moisturize gently and naturally. Wipes are fragrance free, not bleached with chlorine and do not contain alcohol or synthetic ingredients that can irritate baby's skin.



11. gDiapers consist of a washable, cotton outer pant and a plastic free flushable refill. They are made of breathable material just like sports clothing. So, babies stay dry and happy and are far less likely to get diaper rash. Can't flush? It's ok to toss flushable refills because they're plastic-free. Or garden compost the wet ones. They'll break down in 50-150 days.

The next 2 products I bought for baby's Big Sister and Big Brother, but they deserve a mention.

12. Sigg Baby Water Bottle. Amazingly rugged, crack-resistant, recyclable and reusable, and topped off with a ground-breaking interior lining that is 100% effective against leaching and combats residue build-up. Sigg is a proud participant in the 1% program, where 1% of all profits are returned to environmental causes.

13. Boon Snack Ball. This fun, sphere-shaped snack container is BPA-free. Its rigid form protects snacks from crushing making it great for travel. The two halves unscrew for easy cleaning.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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Three R Thursday - Stop Idling

We interrupt the regularly scheduled discussion on Children's Organic Clothing (because frankly, I can't think about it anymore) to bring you an easy, economical tip on going green.

I just picked Davis up from his gymnastics class. I was 10 minutes early so I parked, turned off my car and thumbed through a magazine (it was a glorious 10 minutes). There I sat, in a row of 5 cars - all moms - waiting to pick up their child. It's a beautiful 50 degrees here today - no heater necessary. Can you believe, I was the only one in the 5-10 minute period of time to turn off my engine.

I'm not suggesting that people are intentionally wasting gas and polluting the air while they sit idle, I'm just saying to be aware of your actions.

An idling vehicle gets the worst gas mileage possible – 0 miles per gallon. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, if 145 million passenger vehicles idle for five minutes a day, approximately four million gallons of gasoline are consumed. As gas prices rise, not idling a vehicle is a quick and easy way to save money at the pump.

HERE'S THE RULE OF THUMB, according to the Consumer Energy Center: If you're in a drive-thru or waiting for someone, and you'll be parked and sitting for 10 seconds or longer... turn off your car's engine.

Read here for some myths associated with idling your car.

Three R Thursday - Organic Children's Clothing Part 2

If you read last week's "Three R Thursday" post, you know I'm crazy and hormonal in the process of figuring out the world of organic clothing. Based on what I discovered about conventional cotton production, I think it's important to invest in organic clothing (if possible) - and I do mean it is an investment!

After a week of searching the net and being on hold with more customer service departments than I care to mention, here's what I discovered. Last week I was optimistic and hoped to score the "green trifecta" of clothing -- certified organic, manufactured under fair trade practices and local. This proved to be a very tough challenge.

I discovered the following brands/companies are certified organic: Tadpoles at Target, George at Wal-Mart, Pottery Barn for Kids, BabyGap, and Hanna Andersson. For now, I don't think I can consider these companies under Fair Trade practices, but depending on your priorities, I think it is important to mention them because they are made from certified organic cotton. I think these are budget-friendly options for the basics (especially onesies that can get ruined easily). I think finding local organic clothing is going to be near impossible, but one can always hope. If you have information contrary to what I found, please let me know about it.

The following 5 companies are all certified organic and fair trade. The price point is based on one short sleeve onesie.

Price Point: $20
Summary: Speesees' mission is to be fun, fair and organic in their products and the way they conduct business. They are taking baby steps towards creating a more sustainable future for the animal, plant and human speesees on our children's planet.
Top pick: I love these colored animal kimonos.

Price Point: $15
Summary: Kate Quinn Organics features stylish apparel made from the finest 100% certified organic fabrics. They strive to care for the earth and its community without sacrificing fun and style.
Top Pick: For the style, price and colors, you can't beat this set of 7 onesies.


Price Point: $13
Summary: Under the Nile offers an alternative to conventional cotton apparel for infants and children. All products are made from 100% handpicked organic cotton that is grown exclusively in Egypt. Their dyeing process uses metal-free or vegetable dyes.
Top Pick: I love this basic collection of 24/7 items.

Under the Nile's site is very informative and contains great information on the importance of organic cotton.


Price Point: $21
Summary: Sage Creek Naturals is committed to providing families with organic cotton baby clothes and bedding. Their priority is to offer a line of organic cotton clothes that are stylish, affordable, safe and of course, soft! Sage Creek Naturals shares your concern for: the health of our loved ones and of our fragile environment, the quality of life and the value of products and services.
Top Pick: I love all the pieces in this bear collection.

Price Point: $21.95
Summary: Ecoland was started by a mother of two girls. Their first brand for babies, “Ecoland for Angel”, is made exclusively from the highest quality 100% organically grown cotton, which is certified by SKAL. All of their garments are sustainable processed and sewn in a sweatshop-free environment.
Top pick: It doesn't get much better than this shirt & pant set.

Three R Thursday - Organic Children's Clothing

They’ve been sitting there for over a week.

Lonely. Confused. Free from toxins.

In a virtual shopping cart. Somewhere on the Internet, sits a basket full of organic baby clothes.

Why, you ask?

Because I am a month away from bringing another beautiful baby into the world, and my neurotic mind is trying to justify spending $20 on an organic onesie.

A $20 organic onesie that will inevitably end up with a breast-milk-induced-poop-explosion all over it. A $20 organic onesie stained and in need of some chemical-laden stain remover, totally defeating the purpose of buying organic in the first place. In the end, leaving the $20 organic onesie unwearable.

Have I mentioned the average organic onesie is about $20?

Decisions, Decisions…

Choosing to buy organic food for our family was an easy decision. Many of the things we consume on a daily basis are organic. We are willing to pay a little more knowing what our family is eating is better for us and the environment.

After researching the production of conventional cotton, my decision became a little easier. Just because my kid’s not going to be eating his organic onesie - doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be safe for him!

I decided to empty my shopping cart today. I want to spend a little more time looking for organic products that hopefully hit the “Green Trifecta” – organic, fair-trade and local (or at least made in the U.S.).

Hopefully, the day will come when words like “natural” and “organic” will be obsolete. A day when concerned mothers can safely assume manufactures are participating in safe practices bringing safe products to our families and into our homes.

I’d love any suggestions or comments you may have. I’ll update you with my findings and hopefully my purchases next week.

Below is my little “pros & cons list” I came up with as I was researching. I’m sure there are a lot more “pros” , but the EPA’s findings pretty much sealed the deal for me.

Pros

1. Organic cotton is produced using materials and methods that are better for our environment.

• Cotton occupies 3% of the world’s farmland, but uses 25% of the world’s chemical pesticides and 10% of the insecticides.
• The EPA considers seven of the top 15 pesticides used on cotton in 2000 as “possible”, “likely”, or “known” human carcinogens.
• According to the Sustainable Cotton Project, it takes about one-third of a pound of pesticides and fertilizers to grow enough cotton for just one T-shirt.

2. The production of organic cotton protects the health of people and the planet.

• The toxic chemicals and synthetic pesticides used in the production of conventional cotton ends up in the ground, air, water, and food supply.
• Can lower instances of allergies and asthma

3. Better value over time.

• Organic cotton becomes softer with each washing. It's also stronger and more durable than a lot of other fabrics.

Cons

1. Organic cotton is more expensive.

• I know the market drives prices. It is going to take an increase in demand from families like ours to make these prices drop.

2. Getting what you paid for.

• If you are going to invest in organic clothing, make sure you are getting a certified organic product. Read the labels or ask the merchandiser if the cotton has been certified.

Three R Thursday - Recycling Valentine's Day Cards

13 WAYS TO RECYCLE VALENTINE’S DAY CARDS

This is a combination post. In addition to my regular 3 R Thursday post, I am also participating in my first Thursday Thirteen.

By the end of today you may find an abundance of festive Valentine's Day Cards on your kitchen counter. Never fear. Here are 13 ideas to help turn those cards into meaningful projects for your family. If you are not feeling all that crafty, make sure you check out #13 for ideas on where to send your cards to be recycled for good causes.

I also have a giveaway going on - please check details above!

Sewing Cards – Using the front of the card, hole punch around the edges about an inch apart. You could even use some of the fancy shaped hole punchers available now. Let your children use a yarn or shoelace to weave around the card.

Puzzles – With just a few simple supplies you can turn your card into a puzzle the kids will love putting together. Use these instructions to help you create your puzzles.

Gift Tags – Cut out certain parts of the cards or cut them into different shapes. Punch a hole and store them away so they are ready the next time you wrap a gift.

Magnets – Cut out various shapes and glue onto pre-made magnets for instant fridge art.

Placemats – Make a set of customizable placemats for your next family dinner. Use these directions from Kaboose to help you create one of a kind placemats.

Gift Boxes – Use these step-by-step directions from CraftyPod to turn your card into a sweet little gift box.

Bookmarks – Cut them into strips and use them for hip bookmarks. Use different style scissors to cut the edges and laminate for longer use. You can also write special quotations or make notes from the book you are reading.

Mini Journals – Cut the fronts off of 2 favorite cards. Cut lined or unlined paper to size and add a few sheets between cards. You can use a stapler or hole punch and yarn to join all pieces together.

Gift Bags – Cut out different shapes or pictures from your cards. Glue to plain white/brown paper bags to create an instant original gift bag.

Make Confetti – Use different types of hole punchers to punch out various colors and shapes. Store your confetti for the next time you need to decorate a special occasion table. This activity has the potential to keep children entertained for hours!

Postcards - Collect large index cards or use the fronts of cards received and turn them into postcards. The postmaster-friendly postcard size is a minimum of 5 inches by 3.5 inches - maximum of 6 inches by 4.25 inches. Glue or tape valentines to one side or create a collage with lots of different paper bits. Write a special message on the back and send this thoughtful postcard to someone you love.

Scrapbooking – Save your money on cardstock shapes. Use your cards to cut out different shapes for your scrapbooking needs.

Recycle them – Not feeling very crafty? Simply recycle your cards. Better yet, collect cards from all your children’s classrooms and neighbors and recycle them also.

I found two sources for donating your cards to be recycled:

CardsDirect provides a useful and beneficial service for disposing of greeting cards that are no longer needed at the end of the season. Place all unused cards (without personalization), and/or cards being considered for disposal, in a box or envelope.

Address the box or envelope and mail to: CardsDirect 2007/2008 Card Recycling and Re-Use Program 200 Chisholm Place, Suite 220 Plano, TX 75075 866.700.5030

St. Jude’s Ranch for Children also has a recycled card program. The children precision cut the card fronts and glue them to pre-printed card stock. The children receive fifteen cents per each acceptable card made which is divided between their savings and college fund, their cottage fund for special group outings, and to provide the kids with extra pocket money.

Three R Thursday #5 - BYOB Movement

No, I am not talking about beer - although a beer does sound good right about now. I am talking about BAGS. Specifically, plastic bags.

I know - I know, I've had this discussion before, but now I'm a little mad (you should know, it takes a lot to make me mad). It seems that China has surpassed our Green initiatives, and just last month banned all plastic bags. Come on now - can't we move ahead of them in something?

Thankfully, supermarkets like Whole Foods, is taking on this challenge. By Earth Day 2008, all Whole Foods markets will no longer offer plastic bags as an option.

I am not saying you have to go out and buy a dozen reusable bags. I'm guessing you already have several canvas totes lying around and probably your own stash of plastic bags you could reuse.

Let's review a view facts: (provided by Reusable Bags)

• According to The Wall Street Journal, the U.S. goes through 100 billion plastic shopping bags annually. An estimated 12 million barrels of oil is required to make that many plastic bags.

• Plastic bags cause over 100,000 sea turtle and other marine animal deaths every year when animals mistake them for food.

• The average family accumulates 60 plastic bags in only four trips to the grocery store.

Whew - I'm a little worn out from my rant. I don't often take such a strong stand on things, but I guess everyone needs a cause. I just think reusing bags is such a simple fix. If you are looking for a way to make a small change - this would be a great way to make a huge impact. Thank you for indulging me.

Take a look at some Bloggers making a difference. They're writing about small changes having a big impact on REDUCING, REUSING and RECYCLING.

• Great news for Croc lovers! They are now recyclable. GreenStyle Mom has written about the program here.

• Design Mom shares information she found on a creative way to reuse tin cans.

• Check out MommyBlogs Toronto for their February Challenge: Eliminate Plastic Bags! They are also offering prizes!
  

Click here to read previous Three R Thursday posts.

Three R Thursday #4 - Something To Smile About

Fifty Million pounds of toothbrushes end up in our landfills each year. Imagine how high that number would be if we followed the advice of our dentists and actually replaced our toothbrushes every 3 months!

A toothbrush developed by Recycline called Preserve is a simple solution to this problem. The Preserve toothbrush is made from recycled plastics. They have formed a partnership with Stonyfield Farm Yogurt – the recycled yogurt containers are used to make the toothbrush handles. The Recycline website is very informative and does a great job describing their Plastics Recycling Process.

I can’t believe I’m this excited about toothbrushes . . . man has my life changed.

Today at Trader Joe’s I picked up a couple of Preserve Toothbrushes along with 2 pre-paid postage return envelopes. At the end of its lifecycle, you use these envelopes to return the toothbrushes, and they will repurpose them. Even their packaging is made from recyclable materials, and the clear container it comes in has "breathable" air holes making it useful for travel purposes.

The Preserve is available at natural food supermarkets such as Whole Foods Market, Wild Oats, and Trader Joe's. There are also many online sites offering Recycline’s products (like Amazon) – there are even Preserve Jr. Toothbrushes for your little ones.

Bonus: If you shop at Trader Joe's and use your own bags you can be entered into a drawing for a $20 gift card.

Take a look at some Bloggers who are making a difference. They are making small changes that will have a huge impact and help REDUCE, REUSE and RECYCLE.

• Playful Professional at Play More, Laugh More, Live More hosted a clothing swap for her "Girls Night Out". You could also organize one with your "Mom's Group" for swapping kids clothes.

• Tickled Pink shares 13 little ways her family is going green.

• GreenStyleMom has a great beauty tip and is also having a great EcoGear giveaway.

• SortaCrunchy is looking for Another Way to free herself from all the "stuff".

These are all great examples of how small changes can make a big difference. Please share your small changes with us!

Three R Thursday #3

Welcome to the 3rd edition of Three R Thursday. I know from comments and emails I have received you are making small changes and practicing the 3 Rs . . . YEAH!

This week was a pretty typical week. We put out a lot of paper for curbside pick-up and gave away some things on Freecycle. I was successful with my eBay sells, but decided the last bin of Meg's clothes are going to the consignment shop. I don't want to go to the post office anymore, and I think keeping the clothes local is probably better for the environment in the long run (this is me trying to convince myself I am not lazy because I don't want to go to the post office).

I think I have RECYCLE and REDUSE under control, but I struggle a little with ideas for REUSING things. I would love to hear your ideas.

I did find an interesting organization, EcoMom Alliance. I joined the EcoMom Challenge which basically consists of 10 steps to creating a sustainable future. I am listing the steps below, but you can find out more from their site. Check out #5 (as I pat myself on the back!)

1. Change a light. If every household in America changed out just 5 light bulbs to energy efficient CFL's it would be equivalent to taking 8 million cars off the road.

2. Drive More Efficiently: Car pool, don't idle during drop off and pick up, drive a hybrid and drive less. If we each drove just 10 mile less per week, it would save 20 billion pounds of CO2 - and you'll find more time in your day.

3. Shop local, fair trade and organic. Most food travels an average of 1,200 miles before it reaches your table, so by walking down to your local farmer's market, you'll not only reduce fossil fuel waste, you might also reduce your own waist.

4. Use non toxic products for cleaning, bathing, even make-up and you'll protect the environment as well as reduce you and your family's risk of disease.

5. Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Cutting down on garbage by just 10% can save 1,200 pounds of CO2 and you'll have less junk around the house!

6. Turn off and unplug electronic devices and you'll reduce your exposure to electromagnetic radiation, and save on energy and CO2 emissions. You can also start having dinner by candlelight, which your kids, and your partner, will love!

7. Re-think your laundry plan! A favorite of many EcoMoms. Doing less, using cold water and line drying when possible you can save over 500 pounds of CO2 and over $600 per year.

8. Plant a Tree. Or any plant. Just bring more green into your life. This is a great activity to do with your kids to mark special occasions. Over the course of its lifetime, a single tree can absorb one ton of carbon dioxide. Go organic if you can and avoid those nasty pesticides.

9. Buy carbon offsets and reduce mom guilt, like the SUV you still have. Offsets are kind of like eating too many brownies one day and jogging extra the next. For more information you can visit www.nativeenergy.com.

10. Play more. This will be your child's favorite, and hopefully yours too. In today's world, it is easy to get so busy that you forget to take time to connect and play with the people you love, and to do things that feed your mind, body and spirit. So do things that make you feel healthy, good and thriving. It's all connected. Sustain your Home, Sustain Your Planet and Sustain Your Self. You're on your way to being an EcoMom!

Three R Thursday #2

Welcome to 3 R Thursday! Each week I will document our family's attempts to REDUCE, REUSE, and RECYCLE.

This week we posted a rug and crib on Freecycle. The rug was picked up last night and someone is coming for the crib over the weekend.

I forgot my reusable shopping bags on a trip to the store. I asked for paper bags and used them to mail three packages.

Partial credit - I posted a lot of clothes on eBay. I don't know if this totally counts because I made a little money from doing it. The clothes are no longer taking up valuable space in my house and somebody out there got some great deals on really cute clothes they did not need to go purchase new somewhere.

How was your week? Did you find any creative ways to REUSE something?

Three R Thursday

Thursday is going to be dedicated to the 3 Rs:
REDUCE - REUSE - RECYCLE

REDUCE - make less waste in the first place.
REUSE - reuse items where possible, or find alternative uses for them.
RECYCLE - recycle as much as possible so the materials can be used to make something new.

Imagine what could happen if we all chose one R a week to focus on to make a small change. Chances are you are already doing things you aren't even aware of that can make a difference one way or the other.

Last night Bob posted an old printer on Freecycle and someone is picking it up today! YEAH

Have you done something this week to REDUCE, REUSE or RECYCLE? If so, let us know about it so we can get some new ideas! Kudos to my brother for making several changes in an effort to go green!

If you didn't get a chance to do something this week - what are you planning for next week to make a difference?